Krista Malin is the recipient of the 2014 Jim Ed McGee Award as the most outstanding graduate student at Arkansas Tech University.

A native of Brinkley and resident of Russellville, Malin was presented with her award during the Arkansas Tech Graduate Council meeting at the Doc Bryan Student Services Center on Tuesday, April 15.

Malin earned a Master of Education degree in educational leadership from Arkansas Tech in December 2013. She has been a teacher for 15 years, including the last 14 years as a kindergarten teacher at Crawford Elementary School in Russellville.

Dr. Mary Gunter, dean of the Arkansas Tech Graduate College, presented Malin with her award. Gunter said that among the factors that made Malin stand out was a summer enrichment program that she developed for students in the Russellville School District.

“The opportunities that I had as a graduate student at Arkansas Tech not only made an impact on me, but they helped those 150 students in the summer program,” said Malin. “None of it would have been possible without the research and mentorship that I was exposed to through my graduate studies.”

Nominees for the Jim Ed McGee Award must have completed their graduate course work with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75.

The award’s namesake --- Dr. Jim Ed McGee --- served as vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech from 1973 until the time of his passing in fall 1992.

His service to Arkansas Tech before attaining the rank of vice president included time as associate professor of education, director of institutional research, director of institutional services and director of development and public relations.

For more information about educational opportunities available through the Arkansas Tech Graduate College, visit www.atu.edu/gradcollege or call (479) 968-0398.